Practice: The Difference Between Fish and No Fish For Dinner
The finer points of fly casting can take years to master, but take heart, one
can learn the basic overhand fly cast in a few hours of practice. Then, head for
the water.
First find an open area with no dogs, children or windows in the
immediate vicinity. It may be best to pick a time when the spouse is gone
shopping as well.
Now strip off some line from the reel and let it lay on the ground at your
feet, or in the water if you are attempting this on a lake or stream.
Avoid pivoting the casting arm at the elbow. Instead, lock the wrist and
forearm and move them together through a level plane.
Point the fly rod in the direction of the cast and lift it in the air until
all (or most) of the line is moving.
Propel the line into the back cast over the shoulder with a short, fast
speed stroke accelerating smoothly. This causes the rod to bend and generates
enough power to draw the line backward over the shoulder as it follows the rod.
Stop the rod just past vertical, at about 11:00 o'clock and pause allowing a
loop to form as the line shoots backward.
Just as the back cast forms a J-shaped loop, stroke the rod forward slowly
at first, accelerating smartly and stop it at about the 1:00 o'clock position.
If all has gone well, the line should shoot forward and settle gently on the
water's surface. Now lower the rod tip and begin fishing.